Adjustable top desk



Jan. 26, 1960 R.\J. LAPPIN EI'AL 2,922,685

ADJUSTABLE TOP DESK Filed NOV. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS,

Jan. 26, 1960 R. J. LAPPIN ETAL ADJUSTABLE TOP DESK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 12, 1957 INVENTORS ADJUSTABLE TOP DESK Richard J. Lappin andRobert G. Mohr, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to TheBrunswick-'Balke-Collender Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication November 12, 1957, Serial No. 695,896

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-39) This invention relates to a desk and moreparticularly to an adjustable height desk for supporting a typewriter orthe like.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved desk inwhich the desk top may be easily adjusted to a desired height because ofthe floating action of the top and may be releasably held in adjustedposition by mechanism conveniently located for operation by a user ofthe desk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a desk for supporting atypewriter or the like comprising a supporting leg structure, a top forthe desk on which a typewriter or the like may be supported, meansmounting the top on the leg structure for up and down movement relativeto said leg structure with the top maintained level at all times, meansfor yieldably urging the top upwardly with sutficient force to cause thetop to substantially float when supporting a typewriter or the likethereon, and means easily operable from a users position relative to thedesk for releasably holding said topin a desired height position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a desk as defined in thepreceding paragraph wherein the top mounting means includes a pair ofparallelogram linkages between the top and leg structure, the meansyieldably urging the top upwardly includes a pair of torsion barsconnected between the top and said linkages and the tates Patent2,922,685 Patented Jan. 26, 1960 As shown in the drawings, the deskcomprises a leg structure having a pair of rear legs 1 and 2, and a pairof front legs 3 and 4 with the front and rear legs at a side of the deskformed integrally with connecting parts 5 and 6, respectively. A' crossbar 6a extends between the front legs 3 and 4 to rigidly connect thelegs together. A panel 6b also extends between the legs 3 and 4 and asupport rack 60 is connected between the panel 6b and the rear leg 2. Atop 7 for the desk overlies the leg structure and has a downwardlyextending skirt 8 extending around the sides and front of the desk whichsubstantially encloses mechanism described hereinafter for enablingheight adjustment of the top. The top is provided witha paper storagecompartment 9 and has a surface adjacent thereto for supporting atypewriter or the like. The compartment 9 includes a pull-out dictationslab 9a so that dictation may be taken at the desk.

Means are provided for movably supporting the top on the leg structureincluding mechanism at each side of the desk. These mechanisms aresubstantially identical and one will be described in detail. Thismechanism in cludes a first tie bracket 10 welded to the upper end ofthe front leg 4 and a second tie bracket 11 in the form of a generallytriangularly shaped" plate having a right angle flange 12 at its upperend which is secured to the underside of the desk top 7 by means, suchas screws 13. A pair of vertically spaced parallel links 14and'15 extendbetween said tie brackets. The lower link 14 and upper link 15 areconnected to the tie brackets by pivot pins 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b,respectively. The pivot pins 141:, 15a and 14b, 15b are arranged to lieone above the other in all positions of the desk top.

A rigid tubular member 16 is connected between the upper links 15 andsynchronizes the movement of the means for releasably holding the top ina desired position includes a pin fixed to the leg structure, a notchedbar movably mounted on the top underside and manually operable linkageconnected to the bar.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in elevation looking toward the rear of thedesk;

Fig. 2. is a vertical fragmentary section taken generally along the line22 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the top in its uppermostposition;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the desk with the desk top broken away;

Fig. 5 is a vertical fragmentary section taken generally along the line5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the mechanism for holding thetop in adjusted position with the parts shown disengaged; and

Fig. 7 is fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale of the lowerend of one desk leg.

While-thisinvention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a preferred embodiment of theinvention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplifica tionof the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit theinvention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope 'of the inventionwill be pointed out in the appended claims. I

mechanism at each side of the desk so that the mechanisms move together.This structure mounts the desk top for up and down movement relative tothe leg structure with the desk top maintained level in all positionsthereof.

Means are provided forurging the top upwardly away from the legstructure to substantially counterbalance the weight of the top 7 and atypewriter or the like supported thereon. This means includes a pair oftorsion bars 20 and 21 which extend transversely across the desk beneaththe top 7. The torsion bar 20 has an end 22 which engages the undersideof the desk top 7 and is held relative thereto by a clip 23 secured tothe underside of the desk. An opposite end 24 of the torsion bar 20passes through an opening 25 in the rigid tubular connecting member 16and terminates in a bent-over part 26 fitting in an opening 27 formed ina plate 28 extending inwardly from the upper top supporting link 15 andattached to the link and the cross member 16. The torsion bar 21 has anend 29 in engagement with the underside of the top 7 and held relativethereto by a fastening clip 30 and has an opposite end 31 extendingthrough an opening 32 in the tubular cross member 16 and terminating ina down-turned part 33 which engages in an opening 34 in a plate 35extending inwardly from and secured to the adjacent upper top supportinglink 15 and the cross member 16.

The torsion bars 20 and 21 act between the upper top supporting links15, cross member 16 and the top 7 as will be readily apparent from acomparison of Figs. 2 and 3. The torsion bars are assembled with asutficient load so as to render the top freely movable by a user betweenthe limit positions as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with the weight of' atypewriter or other device on the top. The loading of the torsion barsis such that the torsion bars are attempting to increase the angle be.-tween the desk top 7 and the upper .top supporting link'15. 9

' Means are provided for releasably holding the top in any desiredposition of adjustment and which may be readily operated from the rearof the desk by a user. This means includessimilar structure at each sideof the desk and the structure at one side thereof will be described. Aplate 40, is slidably mounted on the underside of the top 7 by slots 41formed therein slidable on headed screws 42 extending downwardly fromthe top underside. A spring 43 is connected between the plate and a pin44 secured to the top underside to urge the plate rearwardly. The platehas a notched bar 45 extending downwardly therefrom with a plurality ofrearwardly facing notches 46. The spring 43 urges this bar 45 rearwardlyinto engagement with a catch pin which is formed as a continuation ofthe pivot pin 15a for the front end of the upper topsupporting link 15.Abrace 47 on the upper top supporting link 15 engages and supports theend of pin 15a and prevents notched bar 45 from slipping otf the endof'pin 15a. As noted in comparing Figs. 2 and 3, the height adjustmentof the top is determined by which of the notches46 engage the catch pin.

The engagement of the bars 45 with the catch pins is controlled by acontrol link 50 having a handle 51 at the rear of the desk and whichisslidably mounted to the underside of. the top 7 by screws 52 and slots53. The control link 50 at its forward end is pivotally connected by apin 54 to oppositely extending operating links 55 and 56, The links 55and 56 are pivotally mounted to the top underside by fasteners 57 and 8,respectively, and the operating links 55 and 56 at their free endsengage the notched bars 45. A rearward pull on the control link 51pivots the operating links 55 and 56 in a direction to move the notchedbars 45 toward the front of the desk against the action of the springs43 to free the notched bars 45 from the catch pins so that the top maybe moved up or down relative to the leg structure. The plates 49 andnotched bars 45 are limited in their forward movement by engagement ofthe headed screws 42 with the ends of the slots 41.

In one embodiment, the top may have a 4" range of height adjustment andthis adjustment may be in h" increments as provided by adjacent notches46.

In order to adjust the desk for stability on an unlevel floor one leghas, at its lower end, a height adjustment mechanism as shown in Fig. 7.The leg has a rubber foot 60 fitted on a leg cap 61 and the heightadjustment mechanism includes a machine screw welded to the leg cap 61and threadably mounted in the hollow lower end of the leg as shown at63.

We claim: 7

1. A desk structure having an adjustable height top to facilitate use ofan object supported thereby cornprising, a leg structure including apair of spaced apart front legs, a top overlying said leg structure,means for movably supporting said top on said leg structure includingmechanism at each side of the desk, each of said mechanisms including afirst tie bracket fixed to one of the front legs near its top, a secondtie bracket fixed to the top underside adjacent its rear, and a pair ofvertically spaced pivotal parallel links extending between said tiebrackets whereby the top may move up and down while maintaining a levelposition, a rigid member extending transversely between the upper ofsaid parallel links, means for urging said top upwardly away from saidleg structure, including a pair of torsion bars, each bar having an endengageable with the top underside relative to the front leg andextending inwardly therefrom, a plate slidably mounted on the topunderside,

at one side thereof and extending laterally in opposite a bar having aplurality of rearwardly facing vertically spaced notches extendingdownwardly from the plate, a spring for urging the plate and barrearwardly to engage a notch with the catch pin, and an operating linkextending inwardly from the bar and pivoted intermediate its ends to thetop, and a manually engageable control link mounted on the top undersidefor sliding movement in a front to rear direction connected to saidoperating links and having an end adjacent the rear of the top, wherebya rearward pull on the control link shifts the bars forwardly to freethe catch pins and permit height adjustment of the top.

2. A desk having an adjustable height top comprising, a leg structureincluding a pair of spaced apart front legs, a top overlying said legstructure, means for supporting said top on said leg structure for-upand down movement including mechanism at each sideof'the desk, each ofsaid mechanisms including a parallelogram linkage with a first tiebracket-fixed to one of the front legs, and a second tie bracket fixedto the :topv underside adjacent its rear, a rigid member extendingtransversely between the parallelogram linkages, means for urging saidtop upwardly away from said leg structure including a pair of torsionmembers, each torsion member having an end engageable with the topunderside at one side thereof and connected adjacent their other end tothe rigid member, and manually releasable means for holding the top inone of a plurality of vertical positions including at each side of thedesk a catch pin fixed relative to the front leg, a bar slidably mountedon the underside of the top and having a plurality of rearwardly facingvertically spaced notches, means for urging the bear rearwardly toengage a notch with the catch pin, and an operating l-ink extendinginwardly from the bar and pivoted intermediate its ends to the top, anda manually engageable control link mounted on the top underside forsliding movement in a front to rear direction connected to saidoperating links, whereby a rearward pull on the control :link shifts thebars forwardly to free the catch pins and permit height adjustment ofthe top. I

3. A desk structure having an adjustable height top to facilitate use ofa device supported thereby compris' ing, a leg structure including-apair of spaced apart front legs, a top overlying said leg structure,means for movably supporting said top on said leg structure includingparallelogram linkage mechanism at each side of the desk, means forurging said top upwardly away from said leg structure, and meansoperable manually from the rear of the desk for holding the top in anupper or lower position or one of a plurality of positions therebetweenincluding at each side of the desk a catch pin fixed to the front leg, aslotted plate slidably mounted on pins extending downwardly from the topunderside,

a bar having a plurality of rearwardly facing vertically spaced notchesextending downwardly from the plate, a spring for urging the plate andbar rearwardly to engage a notch with the catch pin, and an operatinglink extending inwardly from the rack bar and pivoted intermediate itsends to the top, and a manually engageable control link mounted on thetop'underside for sliding movement in a front to rear directionconnected to said operatingxlinks and having an end adjacent the rear ofthe top, whereby a rearward pull on the control link shifts the barsforwardly to free the catch pins and permit height adjustment of thetop;

' 4. A desk having an adjustable height top, a leg structure, a topoverlying said leg structure, means for movably supporting said top onsaid leg structure including mechanism at each side of the desk, each ofsaid mechanisms including a first tie bracket fixed to the legstructure, a second tie bracket fixed to the top underside adjacent itsrear, and a pair of vertically spaced parallel pivotal links extendingbetween said tie brackets whereby the top may move up and down whilemaintaining a level position, a rigid member extending transverselybetween the upper links of said pairs of links, means for urging saidtop upwardly away from said leg structure including an elongated torsionbar positioned befor holding the top in an upper or lower position orone of a plurality of positions therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS522,598 Jones July 10, 1894 2,630,359 Schade Mar. 3, 1953 2,645,538Segal July 14, 1953 2,728,621 Kempter Dec. 27, 1955 2,792,944 DrommerMay 21, 1957 2,831,746 Hartneitt Apr. 22, 1958

